This week, we talk to Dr. Joseph Badr, a dentist by profession who has made it his mission to advocate for dental health in the midst of declining oral health among Australians. He began with the establishment of a revolutionary dental practice with d-spa and followed by another innovative idea with a subscription-based dental kit called Dsmile. Through these innovations, Dr. Badr hopes to make everyday dental care something that is simple to understand and a delight to use.
ISB: What inspired you to embark on this journey in transforming oral health?
JB: I was inspired to transform oral health after noticing the gap in oral health, people hated coming to the dentist and most patients don’t always comply with dentists’ instructions. I had ideas to make it easy to transform one’s oral health routine and journey. I believe that getting access to preventive services with a focus on early intervention and education would put a stop to what is fast becoming an insurmountable problem.
ISB: Your first step was setting up your own dental practice d-spa; what has made it “revolutionary” among the other dental clinics?
JB: 20 years ago, I established d-spa as the world’s first holistic dental spa that uniquely marries cutting-edge technology and the clinical expertise of a dentist’s surgery with the comforts of a calming health spa, with focus on prevention. But what I believe really sets d-spa as “revolutionary” would be our partnership with our Dsmile Care foundation, to provide pro bono dental care for those experiencing financial and life hardships. Many in our team volunteer to participate in the Dsmile Care pro-bono care and our phone service helpline. The future is bright – we are working to bring our vision of giving back into action.
ISB: Why go with a subscription-based dental kit with Dsmile to be the next phase of your oral health advocacy journey?
JB: A subscription-based dental kit was needed to provide convenience and to improve oral health outcomes and establish positive oral health rituals. Our kits last exactly three months at which you receive an automatic refill delivered straight to your door. Our products are professionally and Australian made offering convenience at an affordable price.
ISB: Aside from the challenges related to oral health, what was the most daunting challenge you’ve faced as an entrepreneur and how have you dealt with it?
JB: Manufacturing, eCommerce, retail and sales were challenges that required a lot of learning from my part, as I have not done this before. Also engaging a sustainability consultant at the start of the project meant we had to learn a lot about product source, recycling systems and materials. Wanting a sustainable and Australian-made product and to manufacture as many items as possible in Australia presented the most challenge. We had to persevere and persist to try and convince manufacturers to commit to our vision and produce local products. I believe this paid off in the number of awards that Dsmile has received since launch. Having the right team with the right skill set that share the vision is key to to overcoming these challenges.
ISB: How do you see d-spa and Dsmile evolving in a couple of years?
JB: I see d-spa and Dsmile evolving into a market where we work with clinics to improve oral health outcomes and improve dental care compliance at home. In addition work with industry leaders to provide cradle-to-cradle dental products whilst doing our best to reduce our industry’s carbon footprint and reliance on single-use items. In the long term, I hope to have a lasting impact on oral health routines worldwide.
ISB: What has been the most valuable insight you’ve gained in this journey that other entrepreneurs can learn from?
JB: The most valuable insight I have gained in this journey that other entrepreneurs can learn from is the need to make sure there is transparency at every level of service you provide and to find a solution to the issue that will benefit everyone.
